Search
Related Links

 

 

Informative Articles

Dish Network Background
If you have been considering making the switch from cable to satellite TV then chances are you have seen or heard of the satellite company Dish Network . It can be overwhelming with all the different ads and sales pitches you see online, on TV and...

Home Theater Ugly Secrets Revealed - Secrets #8, 9 and 10
Secret 8: YOU MAY NOT SEE A PICTURE AT ITS BEST. What you should do about it: Depends on how deeply you want to crawl into this. Warning! This is technical but I'll simplify. Each piece of electronics - a display device (Hi-Def,...

How does Dish TV Work?
Below we are going to explain to you how Dish TV satellite works and also why Dish TV is your best option for satellite TV programming. So let’s get started: When deciding which satellite TV system to go with you most likely turned to the...

Satellite Radio Online Store RapidSatellite.com Reviewed
April 7, 2004 Rapid Satellite provides the best selection of Sirius Radio satellite equipment RapidSatellite.com was one of the first web sites I found offering satellite radio satellite equipment. They only carry Sirius satellite radio...

Satellite Radio: XM Radio or Sirius?
Satellite radio is the hottest trend in radio entertainment for your car, home, and office. The freedom from commercials and static is an exhilarating experience. No longer do you have listen to obnoxious jingles and hot air. No longer are...

 
Troubleshooting your Cable Box



Unless you’ve recently moved from Alaska to Texas and you’re feeling a little homesick, chances are that the last thing you want to see when you turn on your TV is snow. Combine a snowy screen with that loud, obnoxious static sound, and you’ve got a problem on your hands. Fortunately you don’t have to be techie to fix your cable box – just follow these simple troubleshooting steps to get picture back in no time.

Cable Box Basics

Make sure your cable box is plugged in. I know that sounds silly, but after troubleshooting these things over the phone professionally, you can trust me on this one. Save yourself the time and embarrassment of calling a professional just to have them tell you to plug it in. That goes for the rest of the essential equipment as well (i.e. TV, VCR or DVR if you’re running the signal through one, etc.). It wouldn’t hurt to make sure the TV is on the correct channel – usually channel 3 or 4 or one of the input channels.



Make sure all the cables are connected. Even if you’re TV and cable box are both turned on, you won’t see a picture unless they are connected. Check each connection to ensure it is tight and that none of the wires or connecting pieces is damaged. Also check to see that the connections are all correct – meaning, video and audio should be going out of your cable or satellite box to your TV “in” ports. The signal should follow a logical path. If the connections are correct but you’re still not seeing any picture, replace the cables to see if that solves the problem. If you’re running the signal through a DVR or VCR and having problems, skip the middle man and plug the cables straight from the box to the TV. If you get a picture you know you’re problem is in the VCR.



After making sure everything is on and the cable connections are all correct, try rebooting your system. Each company’s receivers have different methods of rebooting, but one fairly universal way is to unplug the box for 10 to 20 seconds and then plug it back in. Do not just turn the box off and back on again – you’ll need to actually pull the plug out of the wall and then put it back in again. Once the cable box is plugged back in, turn the power on and cross your fingers. If you’re still not receiving any picture, unplug the receiver again for up to one minute and then plug it back in. This may be tedious and time-consuming, especially when you’re missing the fight of the year


or the Super Bowl, but give it the full minute – you’ll spend less time doing it yourself than you will waiting for a repairman to come out and fix it.

Fuzzy Picture or Sound

If you are getting a picture but no sound; or sound but no picture; or a fuzzy picture or sound, recheck the cable connections to make sure they are tightened and that the wires or connecting pieces are undamaged. Poor picture or sound is typically caused by one of three problems: poor wire connections, signal interference, or TV settings.



Going outside to make sure nothing is interfering with your signal will help with the second problem. Of course, if you have underground cables there is not much you can do about making sure they are clear of interference (that’s read, “Your neighbor cut through it while gardening”). If you have a satellite dish, know that excessive rain or snow buildup on the dish can cause signal interference. Use caution when checking your dish, especially if it is on your roof or some other hard-to-reach place around your house. The installer should have verified that no trees or other objects would interfere with your signal from the satellites, but take a quick look around to see if new foliage is blocking the signal. If it is not on your property, do not cut or remove anything without prior permission from the property owner.



Finally, adjusting your TV settings can help when you are receiving a clear signal and all the connections are fine. Horizontal and vertical settings are the adjustments that most often need to be made, but consulting your owner’s manual can give you a better indication of other settings that can be tweaked.



Troubleshooting requires patience, so make some lemonade, roll up your sleeves, and get started. If none of these suggestions work (9 times out of 10 they will), contact your service provider. They may have additional troubleshooting steps or resources they can make available to you to get your cable or satellite TV up and running.


About the Author

Nick Smith is a client account specialist with 10x Marketing - More Visitors. More Buyers. More Revenue. To find out how to replace your cable box with a digital satellite receiver, check out I-Satellite.

 

Good TV. Better TV. DIRECTV.
Subscription services delivering sports, news, movies, adult, family, network, and local programming via satellite.
www.directv.com
 
DISH Network -- Home
Includes news, channel list, and information on programming options and related magazine.
www.dishnetwork.com
 
Satellite TV - Compare and save on DIRECTV, Dish Network, and VOOM
The best online resource for satellite TV: Compare DIRECTV, Dish Network, and VOOM, and order satellite TV and Internet from the nation's top retailers.
www.satellitetv-hq.com
 
Howstuffworks "How Satellite TV Works"
Satellite TV once required a huge eyesore of a dish positioned on the lawn. These days, you can receive the digital satellite signal with a tiny bowl ...
electronics.howstuffworks.com
 
1st for Sky Digital and satellite TV news - What Satellite ...
Impartial news and information on Europe's satellite networks.
www.wotsat.com
 
Satellite TV Frequently Asked Questions List
For this reason, satellite TV popularity in the USA has declined. ... WHO SHOULD OWN A SATELLITE SYSTEM: Most owners of Satellite TV systems these days fall ...
www.faqs.org
 
Satellite television - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
In Israel, Satellite TV services were introduced by YES! company, ... In New Zealand, SKY Network Television offers multichannel digital satellite TV, ...
en.wikipedia.org
 
Indymedia Newsreal: Home
INDYMEDIA NEWSREAL, a monthly television series, brings progressive grassroots organizing, going on in your backyard, to a national television audience. ...
satellite.indymedia.org
 
Satellite TV Services - Dish Network And Direct TV
Read our guide to analyze satellite TV services and features with information about Dish Network and Direct TV. Order digital dish programming from top ...
www.supersatelliteselection.com
 
Welcome to Satfootball.com - The Premier European Satellite TV ...
Schedules and listings of all major football matches live on satellite tv available in Europe.
www.satfootball.com
 
Satellite TV snubbing Microsoft | CNET News.com
Satellite TV snubbing Microsoft | Software giant's high-definition video technology is being passed over by DirecTV and its biggest rivals.
news.com.com
 
Satellite TV information
Information on UK Digital Satellite TV in the UK, including Sky and Sky+.
www.radioandtelly.co.uk
 
Satmania: Satellite TV Channel Database
Satellite TV Спутниковое телевидение: Satellite Channel Database, TV Guide, List of channels received in your location, Equipment, News.
www.satmania.com
 
Big discounts on satellite tv receivers satellite dishes dss ...
satellite shop for digital motorized tv receivers satellite tv dishes Sky Digital satellite systems and cam cards programmers bbc viewing information buy ...
www.brymar.co.uk
 
Roberts Satellite TV
Personal site that offers information on how broadcasts work, and what kind of equipment is needed to receive satellite signals.
www.nmia.com
 
PVR Wire
The Sat+GO! has a 70s brown color scheme and has a fold away briefcase design making it a handy portable device for watching your DirecTV satellite TV ...
www.pvrwire.com
 
C-band Satellite TV, 4DTV and Free To Air Satellite Entertainment
C-Band and 4DTV Satellite TV Systems, Free to Air and DISH Network plus C-band replacement parts, c-band and 4DTV satellite guides and Free To Air charts ...
www.skyvision.com
 
Good TV Better TV get DIRECTV best offers with $100 Cash Back free ...
direct tv offers and best satellite tv deals on direct tv dvr and direct tv hd ... You can't get that with your cable company or other satellite tv ...
www.expertsatellite.com
 
::: Orbit.net :::
Pan-Arab satellite broadcasting network offering over 40 services of premier programming including movies, live sporting events and up to-the-minute news ...
www.orbit.net
 
Dish Network Satellite TV!
Get a satellite TV system from Dish Network and up to four receivers installed free when you sign up for service. You will also get one month of free ...
www.vmcsatellite.com
 
 

 

Content Menu
  • a peek into the near future of electronics technology

  • basic technology history

  • benefits of dvr players

  • benefits of satellite tv

  • cable tv and satellite tv which is better

  • choosing your plasma tv features to look for when purchasing a plasma television

  • conditional access cool shows

  • digital cable vs satellite tv

  • digital projection in your home theater

  • directtv vs dish network which is better

  • directv vs dish network which is better

  • direct tv vs dish network

  • dish network and direct tv try to join forces

  • dish network background

  • dish network guides picking up the right dish network programming

  • dish network vs cable television

  • dish network vs directv race for top is on

  • dish tv a step above the rest

  • dish tv best bang for your buck

  • disk network background

  • eight important factors to consider when getting voip

  • entertainment technology what to consider before buying hdtv

  • free satellite tv is it really free

  • free satellite tv or cable does it really matter

  • getting best free satellite dish offer is it possible

  • get identified under your skin

  • high speed internet is the only way to go for your business needs

  • home theaters ugly secrets 4 5 6 and 7

  • home theater ugly secrets revealed secrets 8 9 and 10

  • honey i shrunk the chip

  • how dlp projectors work

  • how does dish tv work

  • how satellites make our life easier

  • how to choose an internet service provider

  • how to choose a satellite provider part i

  • how to choose a satellite provider part ii

  • how to point a satellite dish

  • how to shop for satellite tv receivers and dishes

  • important steps in installing a satellite dish

  • index

  • internet via satellite service

  • in response to bill gates letter the next sea change

  • is voip good for the home

  • i saw a n ufo

  • rotator

  • satellite dish for apartments condos townhouses

  • satellite radio online store rapidsatellite com reviewed

  • satellite radio shock jocks shock jocks howard stern bad boy of the airwaves

  • satellite radio xm and sirius battle for your

  • satellite radio xm radio or sirius

  • satellite tv can be an eye opening experience

  • should your next big screen tv be a plasma hdtv

  • sirius radio everything you ever wanted to know

  • start of nfl football season causes mass exodus of customers from cable to satellite tv

  • technology and change are stressing your life

  • the coming television revolution

  • the dish on satellite tv

  • the landscape is changing are you ready

  • the metaphors of the net

  • the premium movie channel paradigm could soon face extinction

  • the science behind satellites

  • tivo an introduction for the few who dont know yet

  • tivo information and faq

  • troubleshooting your cable box

  • troubleshooting your dish network receiver

  • understanding the different dish network dvr models

  • voip saving on the bundle

  • want to buy a dab radio

  • what is eeprom

  • what is x10

  • which is better edtv or hdtv

  • who should choose dish network satellite tv

  • why choose dish tv